The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC), designated a comprehensive consortium cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health, has received a $25.5 million Cancer Center Support Grant from NCI. The renewal marks 38 years of continuous NCI funding, dating back to the organization's founding in 1987.
The grant reaffirms Case CCC's critical role in integrating the expertise of cancer researchers and clinicians working at consortium partner organizations Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, and Cleveland Clinic, as a source of discovery and development of more effective approaches to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
"This award reflects the extraordinary capabilities of our research teams and the enduring strength of our consortium institutions," said Gary Schwartz, Case CCC's director and vice dean for oncology at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. "Together, we deliver scientific leadership with national reach and local relevance-driving innovation from discovery to implementation. We are proud to have received this investment that allows us to return nearly threefold to the state in the form of high-quality jobs, reduced healthcare costs, increased research activity, and strengthened biomedical infrastructure."
The grant renewal, awarded through a rigorous evaluation process, provides essential infrastructure funding to support research programs, scientific leadership, technology platforms, education and training at Case Western Reserve, Cleveland Clinic Research Institute and UH's Seidman Cancer Center.
"This renewal is a testament to the transformative research, patient-centered care, and educational initiatives we are advancing together across the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center," said Tom Mihaljevic, Cleveland Clinic CEO and president, and the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair. "By leveraging the unique strengths of our institutions, we are driving innovation that improves lives, strengthens communities, and sets the standard for excellence in cancer treatment and prevention. This achievement inspires us to continue pushing boundaries and delivering hope to patients locally, nationally, and globally."
The award makes possible the development of life-saving detection and prevention discoveries and the coordination of cancer clinical treatment studies for 4 million people in Case CCC's 15-county catchment area in Northeast Ohio.
"This prestigious grant reflects the exceptional caliber of research and care delivered by our shared cancer center and reinforces the importance of our collective mission to advance cancer care and improve outcomes for every patient we serve," said UH CEO Cliff A. Megerian, the Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair. "University Hospitals is proud to be part of this powerful collaboration that accelerates lifesaving cancer discoveries and brings world-class clinical trials and treatments to the people of Northeast Ohio."
The merit score for this award ranks Case CCC in the top 4.1% of NCI-designated cancer centers nationally, indicating the center meets the highest standards of scientific excellence, institutional leadership and comprehensive programming.
"The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center continues to be among the best in the country, thanks to the exceptional leadership of its director Dr. Gary Schwartz, the strength of its partnership among Case Western Reserve, Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals, and its excellent researchers and staff," said Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler. "We are tremendously proud of the Center, its reputation as a leader in cancer research, and importantly, its ability to improve treatment and outcomes of those whose lives are impacted by cancer."
Key initiatives supported by the CCSG include:
• Advancing multidisciplinary research across basic, translational, clinical, and population sciences.
• Operating state-of-the-art core facilities and shared technologies for cancer investigators.
• Driving investigator-initiated trials and partnerships with national cooperative groups.
• Training the next generation of scientists and clinicians through competitive career development programs and early education programs.
• Sustaining productive collaborations with institutions across the U.S. and globally.
"This grant is a recognition of our scientific and operational excellence, but it also reinforces the economic and societal value of investing in high-impact research centers," said School of Medicine Dean Stanton Gerson. "We are proud to contribute not only to the nation's cancer research priorities, but also to the strength and resilience of our region's innovation economy."
